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Signal Bend
Nolan: Return to Signal Bend
Librarian note: This book is being listed under the 'Signal Bend' and 'Night Horde SoCal' series for reader convenience. This is a semi-standalone novel in that it is not part of any series, but its backstory, common characters, and locations encompasses both the Signal Bend and the Night Horde SoCal series.
Nolan Mariano is a man shaped by loss. All his life, people he’s loved deeply have left him in one way or another. In Signal Bend, Missouri, as a son and then a member of the Night Horde MC, he’s found a home and a family. His mother and his younger brother are protected and loved, too.
But Nolan can’t trust it. The past haunts him; injustices left unanswered loom over his present and threaten his future. One injustice in particular.
Iris Ryan is a Night Horde daughter who knows loss of her own. Taken away from her home as a child after unspeakable horror tore her family apart, she returns to Signal Bend, and her father, when she’s grown because she’s never felt at home anywhere else. As Iris settles into a new life of her choosing in the home she’s regained, she and Nolan connect.
As his love for Iris deepens, Nolan can’t ignore the way that loss has warped him. The past is a shadow over him, and he can no longer live under its weight.
He needs vengeance. At any cost.
Note: explicit sex and violence. For Adults 18+
This is a semi-standalone novel in that it is not part of any series, but its backstory encompasses both The Signal Bend and The Night Horde SoCal series.
Nolan Mariano is a man shaped by loss. All his life, people he’s loved deeply have left him in one way or another. In Signal Bend, Missouri, as a son and then a member of the Night Horde MC, he’s found a home and a family. His mother and his younger brother are protected and loved, too.
But Nolan can’t trust it. The past haunts him; injustices left unanswered loom over his present and threaten his future. One injustice in particular.
Iris Ryan is a Night Horde daughter who knows loss of her own. Taken away from her home as a child after unspeakable horror tore her family apart, she returns to Signal Bend, and her father, when she’s grown because she’s never felt at home anywhere else. As Iris settles into a new life of her choosing in the home she’s regained, she and Nolan connect.
As his love for Iris deepens, Nolan can’t ignore the way that loss has warped him. The past is a shadow over him, and he can no longer live under its weight.
He needs vengeance. At any cost.
Note: explicit sex and violence. For Adults 18+
This is a semi-standalone novel in that it is not part of any series, but its backstory encompasses both The Signal Bend and The Night Horde SoCal series.
419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2016
22 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Susan Fanetti
84 books1,419 followersI was born and raised in the Midwest, but I was transplanted into the dusty soil of Northern California and have apparently taken root there. An inveterate geek and gamer, I am a fan of many things considered pop culture and maybe even lowbrow.
As a reader, my favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy, but as a writer, I've found my home in romance--or perhaps it's better to say simply "love stories." I have a yen to try other genres, too, at some point, but for now my muse wants to tell stories about lovers and families.
I write for the joy of it, and I write stories that I want to read. If others like them, too, that's just the cherry on top. I’m not interested in rules and formulae. I follow my muse and my characters and let them take me where they want to go, wherever that might be. I like big emotions, dark and light.
I like complicated characters with flaws and weaknesses as well as strengths, and I like each character’s strengths and weaknesses to be different from those of other characters. I’m much more concerned that my characters be interesting and diverse than that they be widely considered to be likable. I try to create people, not types.
Likewise, I want my stories each to be distinct from the others. Once I’ve told a story, I don’t want to tell it again. So even within a series, one of my books might be very different from the next. Some might be very dark, others equally mild.
That isn’t to say there aren’t trends and recurrences in my work. I’m drawn to certain themes and settings, and my muse has her favorite toys and tools. But I guard against those tendencies becoming a formula.
Find my blog at www.susanfanetti.com
Find my FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanf...
A note: I don't spend much time here on Goodreads. I try not to read any reviews of my own work. Besides, this is a site for readers, but since I write at a fairly manic pace, and read and edit for other writers, I don't have much time to read recreationally. Mainly, I log on to update my info. So if you message me here, it might be a while before I see it.
As a reader, my favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy, but as a writer, I've found my home in romance--or perhaps it's better to say simply "love stories." I have a yen to try other genres, too, at some point, but for now my muse wants to tell stories about lovers and families.
I write for the joy of it, and I write stories that I want to read. If others like them, too, that's just the cherry on top. I’m not interested in rules and formulae. I follow my muse and my characters and let them take me where they want to go, wherever that might be. I like big emotions, dark and light.
I like complicated characters with flaws and weaknesses as well as strengths, and I like each character’s strengths and weaknesses to be different from those of other characters. I’m much more concerned that my characters be interesting and diverse than that they be widely considered to be likable. I try to create people, not types.
Likewise, I want my stories each to be distinct from the others. Once I’ve told a story, I don’t want to tell it again. So even within a series, one of my books might be very different from the next. Some might be very dark, others equally mild.
That isn’t to say there aren’t trends and recurrences in my work. I’m drawn to certain themes and settings, and my muse has her favorite toys and tools. But I guard against those tendencies becoming a formula.
Find my blog at www.susanfanetti.com
Find my FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanf...
A note: I don't spend much time here on Goodreads. I try not to read any reviews of my own work. Besides, this is a site for readers, but since I write at a fairly manic pace, and read and edit for other writers, I don't have much time to read recreationally. Mainly, I log on to update my info. So if you message me here, it might be a while before I see it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
June 12, 2016
2 stars. DNF @44%.
Due to personal reasons, I no longer review books that get less than three stars from me. In order that I can remember why a book didn't work out for me, I've decided to file them accordingly. Meaning, I had to extend my shelves substantially. Besides, if you'd like to know more about my issues, you can check out my final update @44%.
***********************
Pre-reading Nolan: Return to Signal Bend:
Now this is a book I'm anticipating VERY MUCH!
<333 Nolan!
I might be a tiny bit excited!
Due to personal reasons, I no longer review books that get less than three stars from me. In order that I can remember why a book didn't work out for me, I've decided to file them accordingly. Meaning, I had to extend my shelves substantially. Besides, if you'd like to know more about my issues, you can check out my final update @44%.
***********************
Pre-reading Nolan: Return to Signal Bend:
Now this is a book I'm anticipating VERY MUCH!
<333 Nolan!
I might be a tiny bit excited!
June 9, 2016
The fans asked and Ms. Fanetti delivered!
Nolan, Nolan, Nolan! You started this series as a teen and right before the readers eyes you grew into a man that your father would have been proud of. The first time I meet you in was a previous book where you caught my attention because you were a teeanger and I'm a mom of a teenage boy. Those years are tough and the pain you endured with the loss you felt broke my heart. Then you moved away to find yourself and in the process you found love. It was such a deep love that when your heart broke you crushed mine too. I cried with you.
I had wonder what would become of you after you suffered yet another heartbreaking loss. Would you persevere? Could you allow your heart to trust again to feel love?
Those answers came in a young lady named Iris. The daughter of a club member who also suffered the lost of family members.
Nolan, your book made me cry in so many spots. Some were tears of happiness and some were tears of pain and even though you made me bawl through the book I'd do it all over again knowing the outcome.
As Badger told you, "Love and loyalty are the beams that keep us standing." I know you've taken that to heart because I heard it in your words to Iris, "Loss is part of life, though. You can't stop feeling joy and love just because what you love might go away someday."
Nolan, before I go... I just want you to know your journey through Signal Bend and Night Horde were some of my most memorable moments in both seris. Your journey has taught me a lot about life. Thank you!
One word Frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." ~ Sophocies, Oedipus at Colonus
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
RELEASE DATE: June 4, 2016
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1U8phkt
This is a semi-standalone novel—it is not part of any series, but its backstory occurs in the Signal Bend and Night Horde SoCal series.
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
Nolan, Nolan, Nolan! You started this series as a teen and right before the readers eyes you grew into a man that your father would have been proud of. The first time I meet you in was a previous book where you caught my attention because you were a teeanger and I'm a mom of a teenage boy. Those years are tough and the pain you endured with the loss you felt broke my heart. Then you moved away to find yourself and in the process you found love. It was such a deep love that when your heart broke you crushed mine too. I cried with you.
I had wonder what would become of you after you suffered yet another heartbreaking loss. Would you persevere? Could you allow your heart to trust again to feel love?
Those answers came in a young lady named Iris. The daughter of a club member who also suffered the lost of family members.
Nolan, your book made me cry in so many spots. Some were tears of happiness and some were tears of pain and even though you made me bawl through the book I'd do it all over again knowing the outcome.
As Badger told you, "Love and loyalty are the beams that keep us standing." I know you've taken that to heart because I heard it in your words to Iris, "Loss is part of life, though. You can't stop feeling joy and love just because what you love might go away someday."
Nolan, before I go... I just want you to know your journey through Signal Bend and Night Horde were some of my most memorable moments in both seris. Your journey has taught me a lot about life. Thank you!
One word Frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." ~ Sophocies, Oedipus at Colonus
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
RELEASE DATE: June 4, 2016
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1U8phkt
This is a semi-standalone novel—it is not part of any series, but its backstory occurs in the Signal Bend and Night Horde SoCal series.
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
August 4, 2016
4.5 ~ 5 STARS
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For a Signal Bend fan this book hit the spot and me right directly in the feels. Being Showdown Ryan’s No. 1 fangirl I was thrilled that the heroine of this story is one of his baby flowers, Iris. Iris is matched up with the broken and angry Nolan whom we have known since he was a boy. I couldn’t have felt more connected to a group of characters, their past, their pain and their hopeful future.
”Loving Iris had scared the fuck out of him because there was a chance it could be forever – or as close to forever as humans could get. He hadn’t known how to stay any more than he’d known how to trust her to stay. He hadn’t known how to believe in forever. He hadn’t known. He did now.”
I enjoyed this book tremendously it was so well written and left me on a smiling high just bursting with tears of happiness for characters that for me are real and simply out there in a town called Signal Bend just waiting to welcome me!!
[image error]
For a Signal Bend fan this book hit the spot and me right directly in the feels. Being Showdown Ryan’s No. 1 fangirl I was thrilled that the heroine of this story is one of his baby flowers, Iris. Iris is matched up with the broken and angry Nolan whom we have known since he was a boy. I couldn’t have felt more connected to a group of characters, their past, their pain and their hopeful future.
”Loving Iris had scared the fuck out of him because there was a chance it could be forever – or as close to forever as humans could get. He hadn’t known how to stay any more than he’d known how to trust her to stay. He hadn’t known how to believe in forever. He hadn’t known. He did now.”
I enjoyed this book tremendously it was so well written and left me on a smiling high just bursting with tears of happiness for characters that for me are real and simply out there in a town called Signal Bend just waiting to welcome me!!
December 28, 2023
2023
Needing some space to regroup, I took a ride back to re-discover books and authors that touched me and wouldn't let go.
2016
4.5 For the Final Understanding of It All Stars
* * * *1/2 Spoiler Free
There are certain series that will leave an imprint on you, for whatever reason. The Original Sinners Series by Tiffany Reitz was an eye-opening experience due to the incredible love story told over and over again throughout all of the books. Yes, there were sexual experiences that never had crossed my mind before... and yes, there were lines crossed and I had to understand the contexts of them. But what touched me so, was not the new sexual ventures, the presentation of different norms for us... What touched me to the quick was the amazing love stories each installment told between all of these characters through the gifted crafting of the author. Sigh...I will always think fondly of my anticipation for each new book.
There are other series that took me to that mental excitement place; authors like C.D.Reiss and Alessandra Torre brought a certain type of thrill while waiting. Kristen Ashley caused another type of "feel" while waiting for whatever she was putting out...and Penny Reid can put out the phone book and I know it will be something quirky, sassy smart, and special. There are so many others...I have a huge list of "Most Read Authors"...
But when it comes to Susan Fanetti...from the start there was another intangible connection between her writing and me. Again, I was experiencing something very different from the first glance in her Signal Bend Series. I was not part of a Biker life, had no biker friends of that level that I knew of yet the draw was there and pulled me in.
As I read that first book, I understood completely why I was one with it. It was true in the people and their relationships with each other. It was the core love and sacrifice each gave to make things right for the town, club, and loved ones. It was the human experience front and center... just on the back of a bike.
Oh, the stories were so layered... a love story front and center always...but wrapped around it was the club and all the turmoil their lifestyles caused. We lived through violence, whether asked for or not. These people had made decisions and felt their code of ethics was worth standing for...and sometimes paid horrific prices for it.
We were introduced to men who seemed nonredeemable in one installment only to meet the love of their lives in the next. They would see what they had thought in the past to be that ... their past and their new love, their future.
It was during Havoc's story we first met Nolan, a troubled teen. Troubled in the sense of having a deadbeat dad and struggling, free spirit mom trying to get by. His mom was so sweet and understanding of Nolan...realizing he felt things deeply and gave him the space he needed to release his frustrations and stress. Nolan was smart and protective of his mom and when Havoc made things clear he was going to be there for them, Nolan finally felt like his life had turned around. He bonded with Havoc on a level most fathers would dream about. Then Nolan and his little family experience the devastating loss too soon... and it changes Nolan. He has been marked and needs to find his way...
I was there for all of the trauma in Nolan's young life and his pain was my pain. His need to figure out how he could live in a world so cruel was mine as well. I continued on the Signal Bend journey to SOCAL with Nolan; watching, seeing through his eyes, and unfortunately, understanding all of his actions and his need to do them...It was his way to be the type of club member Havoc was...
So with all of these feelings, I waited patiently for Nolan: Return to Signal Bend. From the first few pages, I found myself overwhelmed with feelings and leaking eyes... and those who know me, know I am not an easy crier. I was hit by the pain of Nolan's loss from his last book. (Which was amazing)
He has returned from SOCAL and is back in Signal Bend. We are there with him... how he is trying to be strong for everyone... strong for his mom and little brother, strong for his club and brothers...Always saying everything is fine. Smiling these false smiles... like a mask. They are needed to let others think everything is cool...
For Nolan is haunted...and he has so much pain so deep inside, he cannot let it surface. He is living, breathing but is not feeling anything. His love for Analisa is something he holds because when he is lost and things become too much... at least he knows he was able to love. He knew their relationship had a start and end... he lived through it, loved it, and is having a difficult time letting it go.
He is also having a hard time letting his pain and needs to even the score for Havoc go, as well.
Iris also doesn't let those she loves know of her pain...pain she holds equally as deep as Nolan. For most of her years, she has hidden the remembrance of what evil did in her own home. She saw immediately after, all of those she loved needed to believe she had no knowledge of it. It was easier that way for her mother, father, and surviving sister. But the dark and ugly of her sister Daisy's death is never far away.... just held down deep only coming out now and again in nightmares.
The history of Iris and the club has two points...before the ugly and after. Before, happy memories with her dad Show, with big bear hugs from all of the other members...happy times playing with other club kids...and meeting Nolan. He was older than her and thought of her a little kid...but she always thought he was special.
After the ugly, her mother moved them away from Signal Bend and she and her sister grew up hearing all the bad things about her dad. Iris didn't feel that way and so Rose became her mother's favorite. Rose was pretty, smart, and focused on getting ahead...and now is working in fashion like she always wanted to.
Both girls are back in Signal Bend for the holidays. Iris has just graduated from college and is trying to figure out her life. She has always liked learning things and did well in school but it was the curiosity of learning and researching which was the interest. The usual pressures of people asking what are you going to do now has never made her force herself to lie...she has always been mostly a truth-teller...and would say I really don't know.
Iris happens to land herself a job with an antique dealer. His store is very unusual but the history and unique pieces inside are all of the things which interest her. She loves the stories they tell. When she tells her dad she wants to stay and work in Signal Bend, he questions whether it will be enough for her...what about all that is out there...She explains right now... this is the more she wants.
Nolan and Iris meet each other again at the club and it is momentous in how it makes Nolan feel...He actually feels something when around Iris. She calms all of the noise and makes him feel good. He is confused and when they talk about how both of them had a moment together...He cannot explain why it happened. Iris is strong enough in who she is to tell him to not approach her unless he can figure it out. Iris sees the sadness in Nolan.... past the pretend smile and I'm ok words.
What is so fresh about the communication between these two is there is no game playing what so ever... it is pure in truth between them. It makes Nolan realize a few things and before they know it... they become a couple.
It is in this relationship and how it is presented, Fanetti attacks how easy it is to get lost... Nolan becomes raw with emotions... dredging up more angst about unfinished business he is obsessed with completing. Critical decisions are made and there are plenty of "Come to Jesus" moments for us to experience.
This book covers all of the cast... where they are now, how they feel about their place in the world, and what they have learned. We get a taste of it all and it is bittersweet. Bitter in the fact that this may be the last of our times together... sweet because of how things are put to rest.
Yet, there are now second generations of this Signal Bend group...children with distinct personalities and their own issues to handle. I know I would be more than open to follow them as they mature into their own lives...but whatever Ms. Fanetti does...I know I will always have these characters, their stories, and will be forever grateful.
This moved me in the way Fanetti has done throughout the entire Signal Bend Series.
Move the Sun (Signal Bend, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Behold the Stars (Signal bend, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Into the Storm (Signal Bend, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alone on Earth (Signal Bend, #4)
In Dark Woods (Signal Bend, #4.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
All the Sky (Signal Bend #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Show the Fire (Signal Bend #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Leave a Trail (Signal Bend #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nolan: Return to Signal Bend
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In Dark Woods and Other Stories
The Signal Bend Series: The Complete Series
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
●•●•●•●•●•My long-awaited, most desired book is now in my hot little hands...I can hardly contain myself!
6/3/2016 I am counting the hours until this becomes live!!!!
●•●•●•●•●•●•●•
Susan Fanetti created this world of Signal Bend. It sucked me and wouldn't let go. I went on an intense journey with the Night Horde and their families.
The ups and downs....
The joys, then terrible tragedies with some type of recovery... but never forgetting...
Nolan was a force in this series... we met him when he was a bit lost. He found himself through the devotion of a man, a father figure of sorts...
One who would teach him what being a man truly meant. Nolan has experienced much in his young life...a maturity hard-won...
Fanetti is giving us Signal Bend Devotees a gift...and it will be a summer pleasure...
Nolan: Return to Signal Bend
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Needing some space to regroup, I took a ride back to re-discover books and authors that touched me and wouldn't let go.
2016
4.5 For the Final Understanding of It All Stars
* * * *1/2 Spoiler Free
There are certain series that will leave an imprint on you, for whatever reason. The Original Sinners Series by Tiffany Reitz was an eye-opening experience due to the incredible love story told over and over again throughout all of the books. Yes, there were sexual experiences that never had crossed my mind before... and yes, there were lines crossed and I had to understand the contexts of them. But what touched me so, was not the new sexual ventures, the presentation of different norms for us... What touched me to the quick was the amazing love stories each installment told between all of these characters through the gifted crafting of the author. Sigh...I will always think fondly of my anticipation for each new book.
There are other series that took me to that mental excitement place; authors like C.D.Reiss and Alessandra Torre brought a certain type of thrill while waiting. Kristen Ashley caused another type of "feel" while waiting for whatever she was putting out...and Penny Reid can put out the phone book and I know it will be something quirky, sassy smart, and special. There are so many others...I have a huge list of "Most Read Authors"...
But when it comes to Susan Fanetti...from the start there was another intangible connection between her writing and me. Again, I was experiencing something very different from the first glance in her Signal Bend Series. I was not part of a Biker life, had no biker friends of that level that I knew of yet the draw was there and pulled me in.
As I read that first book, I understood completely why I was one with it. It was true in the people and their relationships with each other. It was the core love and sacrifice each gave to make things right for the town, club, and loved ones. It was the human experience front and center... just on the back of a bike.
Oh, the stories were so layered... a love story front and center always...but wrapped around it was the club and all the turmoil their lifestyles caused. We lived through violence, whether asked for or not. These people had made decisions and felt their code of ethics was worth standing for...and sometimes paid horrific prices for it.
We were introduced to men who seemed nonredeemable in one installment only to meet the love of their lives in the next. They would see what they had thought in the past to be that ... their past and their new love, their future.
It was during Havoc's story we first met Nolan, a troubled teen. Troubled in the sense of having a deadbeat dad and struggling, free spirit mom trying to get by. His mom was so sweet and understanding of Nolan...realizing he felt things deeply and gave him the space he needed to release his frustrations and stress. Nolan was smart and protective of his mom and when Havoc made things clear he was going to be there for them, Nolan finally felt like his life had turned around. He bonded with Havoc on a level most fathers would dream about. Then Nolan and his little family experience the devastating loss too soon... and it changes Nolan. He has been marked and needs to find his way...
I was there for all of the trauma in Nolan's young life and his pain was my pain. His need to figure out how he could live in a world so cruel was mine as well. I continued on the Signal Bend journey to SOCAL with Nolan; watching, seeing through his eyes, and unfortunately, understanding all of his actions and his need to do them...It was his way to be the type of club member Havoc was...
So with all of these feelings, I waited patiently for Nolan: Return to Signal Bend. From the first few pages, I found myself overwhelmed with feelings and leaking eyes... and those who know me, know I am not an easy crier. I was hit by the pain of Nolan's loss from his last book. (Which was amazing)
He has returned from SOCAL and is back in Signal Bend. We are there with him... how he is trying to be strong for everyone... strong for his mom and little brother, strong for his club and brothers...Always saying everything is fine. Smiling these false smiles... like a mask. They are needed to let others think everything is cool...
For Nolan is haunted...and he has so much pain so deep inside, he cannot let it surface. He is living, breathing but is not feeling anything. His love for Analisa is something he holds because when he is lost and things become too much... at least he knows he was able to love. He knew their relationship had a start and end... he lived through it, loved it, and is having a difficult time letting it go.
He is also having a hard time letting his pain and needs to even the score for Havoc go, as well.
Iris also doesn't let those she loves know of her pain...pain she holds equally as deep as Nolan. For most of her years, she has hidden the remembrance of what evil did in her own home. She saw immediately after, all of those she loved needed to believe she had no knowledge of it. It was easier that way for her mother, father, and surviving sister. But the dark and ugly of her sister Daisy's death is never far away.... just held down deep only coming out now and again in nightmares.
The history of Iris and the club has two points...before the ugly and after. Before, happy memories with her dad Show, with big bear hugs from all of the other members...happy times playing with other club kids...and meeting Nolan. He was older than her and thought of her a little kid...but she always thought he was special.
After the ugly, her mother moved them away from Signal Bend and she and her sister grew up hearing all the bad things about her dad. Iris didn't feel that way and so Rose became her mother's favorite. Rose was pretty, smart, and focused on getting ahead...and now is working in fashion like she always wanted to.
Both girls are back in Signal Bend for the holidays. Iris has just graduated from college and is trying to figure out her life. She has always liked learning things and did well in school but it was the curiosity of learning and researching which was the interest. The usual pressures of people asking what are you going to do now has never made her force herself to lie...she has always been mostly a truth-teller...and would say I really don't know.
Iris happens to land herself a job with an antique dealer. His store is very unusual but the history and unique pieces inside are all of the things which interest her. She loves the stories they tell. When she tells her dad she wants to stay and work in Signal Bend, he questions whether it will be enough for her...what about all that is out there...She explains right now... this is the more she wants.
Nolan and Iris meet each other again at the club and it is momentous in how it makes Nolan feel...He actually feels something when around Iris. She calms all of the noise and makes him feel good. He is confused and when they talk about how both of them had a moment together...He cannot explain why it happened. Iris is strong enough in who she is to tell him to not approach her unless he can figure it out. Iris sees the sadness in Nolan.... past the pretend smile and I'm ok words.
What is so fresh about the communication between these two is there is no game playing what so ever... it is pure in truth between them. It makes Nolan realize a few things and before they know it... they become a couple.
It is in this relationship and how it is presented, Fanetti attacks how easy it is to get lost... Nolan becomes raw with emotions... dredging up more angst about unfinished business he is obsessed with completing. Critical decisions are made and there are plenty of "Come to Jesus" moments for us to experience.
This book covers all of the cast... where they are now, how they feel about their place in the world, and what they have learned. We get a taste of it all and it is bittersweet. Bitter in the fact that this may be the last of our times together... sweet because of how things are put to rest.
Yet, there are now second generations of this Signal Bend group...children with distinct personalities and their own issues to handle. I know I would be more than open to follow them as they mature into their own lives...but whatever Ms. Fanetti does...I know I will always have these characters, their stories, and will be forever grateful.
This moved me in the way Fanetti has done throughout the entire Signal Bend Series.
Move the Sun (Signal Bend, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Behold the Stars (Signal bend, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Into the Storm (Signal Bend, #3)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alone on Earth (Signal Bend, #4)In Dark Woods (Signal Bend, #4.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
All the Sky (Signal Bend #5) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Show the Fire (Signal Bend #6) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Leave a Trail (Signal Bend #7)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nolan: Return to Signal Bend https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In Dark Woods and Other StoriesThe Signal Bend Series: The Complete Series~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
●•●•●•●•●•My long-awaited, most desired book is now in my hot little hands...I can hardly contain myself!
6/3/2016 I am counting the hours until this becomes live!!!!
●•●•●•●•●•●•●•
Susan Fanetti created this world of Signal Bend. It sucked me and wouldn't let go. I went on an intense journey with the Night Horde and their families.
The ups and downs....
The joys, then terrible tragedies with some type of recovery... but never forgetting...
Nolan was a force in this series... we met him when he was a bit lost. He found himself through the devotion of a man, a father figure of sorts...
One who would teach him what being a man truly meant. Nolan has experienced much in his young life...a maturity hard-won...
Fanetti is giving us Signal Bend Devotees a gift...and it will be a summer pleasure...
Nolan: Return to Signal Bend
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June 9, 2016
5+++ Stars
This was literally my most highly anticipated book EVER!!!!
It was totally worth the wait! I LOVED every minute.
Signal Bend is such a special place. It holds a spot in my heart, like a dear old friend. I will never get enough of its history and it's people - to me it exudes a unique feeling of strength and triumph. I would live in this fictional place forever if I could.
Nolan is like the prodigal son. From the moment I was first introduced to his character, to the very last page of this story, I have felt a wonderful, deep connection to him, his family and all of the struggles faced. After this incredible book, I think he may be cemented as my favorite Night Horde character. That's a big feat to live up to since I've loved so many of the Horde for many different reasons. Nolan is just so much MORE.
Susan Fanetti continues to sweep me away with her brilliance. There are not enough words.
I think every romantic heart needs to experience the beauty of Signal Bend.
*Advance copy provided by the author. Thank you!*
This was literally my most highly anticipated book EVER!!!!
It was totally worth the wait! I LOVED every minute.
Signal Bend is such a special place. It holds a spot in my heart, like a dear old friend. I will never get enough of its history and it's people - to me it exudes a unique feeling of strength and triumph. I would live in this fictional place forever if I could.
Nolan is like the prodigal son. From the moment I was first introduced to his character, to the very last page of this story, I have felt a wonderful, deep connection to him, his family and all of the struggles faced. After this incredible book, I think he may be cemented as my favorite Night Horde character. That's a big feat to live up to since I've loved so many of the Horde for many different reasons. Nolan is just so much MORE.
Susan Fanetti continues to sweep me away with her brilliance. There are not enough words.
I think every romantic heart needs to experience the beauty of Signal Bend.
*Advance copy provided by the author. Thank you!*
June 16, 2020
June 2020 - I love Nolan. I love Iris. I love the Night Horde. As always, there's no place quite like Signal Bend wrapped within the comfort, discomfort, loyalty, love and beauty of these characters and this brilliant story telling.
Re-read as part of the series Aug/Sept 2017 - Below might be the best review I've ever written, not just for Fanetti books either. Everything said still rings true and the depth of this book from where these characters came, where they are, and where they're going is beautifully real and vulnerably honest. My journey with the Night Horde MC's the second time around was just as important to me as the first, actually more. I love these characters and these words. There's no place quite like Signal Bend.
5+++ ”What do you want, Nolan?” Stars
One of my most anticipated books EVER and the one and only Susan Fanetti did not disappoint. In fact, she took all my expectations and blew them right out of the water. Nolan’s journey ended up being nothing like I thought it would and thank sweet baby Jesus for that because I was taken on another beautifully emotional Fanetti ride that was completely different. I don’t recommend Nolan as a standalone for a variety of reasons. To truly appreciate everything in this book you should read the entire series. With that said, I’m sure reading it as a standalone is completely acceptable but there are spoilers to the rest of the series and you’d seriously be missing out if you didn’t read it all.
Nolan strikes every reading chord perfectly. His story exposes the path this man has traveled and shows us the journey leading him to where he’s going. Nolan also continues the story of a big, beautiful family who lift each other up and carry each other always. It’s poignant and sweet, light and dark, acceptance and denial, letting go and moving on - all rolled into one gorgeously perfect final Signal Bend tale.
Each and every Signal Bend character plays an important role in this book and it was so gratifying to see how Fanetti included them all reminding us of the importance of where they came from and how they band together as a blended family. It makes me cry just thinking about it and remembering each couple’s history and how they came to be where they are today. Each person in the Horde – brothers, old ladies, and their children – has a story as uplifting as it is heart breaking. The evolution of this MC and these characters has been a privilege to read. Seeing the meshing and blending years later through Iris and Nolan’s eyes, two club children who lived through the horrors bestowed upon the club, when circumstances now are quite different in Signal Bend was an awesome experience for me as a forever fan of the series.
Nolan himself takes the stage in this book in a big way and he doesn’t do it in the way you’d expect. Well he does, but he doesn’t. In my mind the brilliant (what I’m going to call) twist of Nolan’s story came so unexpectedly that I never anticipated what Nolan actually needed to fulfill his sense of purpose. There’s a lot of healing and overcoming needed to happen from the time we met Nolan back in All the Sky and throughout the rest of Signal Bend and SoCal – who is Nolan the man? What will he accomplish? How can he be whole? It’s heart breaking yet so rewarding.
Fanetti’s words and structure make you feel that healing so deep that when the unexpected happens you smile through your tears. There’s no other character quite like Nolan, for me. His story has always deeply affected me. His strength and his weakness’s. His stalwart maturity and opinion and his self-denied naivety and retreat to his own mind. He’s a strong old soul with vulnerabilities that leave you feeling so much compassion. His need for family and his eventual understanding of that need and how these men and this MC will always be there as they’ve always been. All these traits were exploited with this story and done so brilliantly.
One thing I always deeply admire about this author comes in the strength of her heroines. Iris Ryan exemplifies Fanetti’s always present characterizations of women as pillars of strength. I loved her. I loved that she was perfect for Nolan and understood him even through his darkness. I loved that she had her own darkness yet so much light she’s a beacon for her man, for her father, for many in the club family. I love her loyalty and love for her father and her uncles and their families, their club, and their town. I love that she’s a product of big, burly MC member who loves her so much and she’s beyond proud to call him “Daddy”. I love that she’s a young woman who sees the glass constantly half full even when her own glass at times was remarkably half empty. I love that she’s a woman who wants to discover and learn and not conform to societal expectations. And I love her for Nolan Mariano. So very, very much.
If you’ve traveled to Signal Bend in the past you know that no happy ending happens just because but rather ultimately ends with a sense of righteousness and understanding so much greater than you ever had before, for both the characters you love and yourself as the reader and fan. The characters of Night Horde MC have become a part of me and have made an incredible impact on my reading soul through the multitude of unconventional, poignantly beautiful stories told about them.
All thanks to the brilliant, heart breaking, evocative, evolving – did I say brilliant? - writing of Susan Fanetti. Being a fan of the series I’ve been a Nolan supporter for a very long time and this book gave me so much additional insight as to why and further proof of that love being worth it. I cherished every single thing about it. Fanetti gave Nolan what he needed and so much more. She gave him everything in a way only she could deliver. I’ll miss Signal Bend. Desperately. But I’ll always be extraordinarily grateful for time I was given there.
There’s one quote in this book spoken by a reflecting Adrienne while talking with Iris that I think really explains the love we all have for this MC so perfectly. It’s fitting for the Night Horde, for the entirety of both series’ of Signal Bend and SoCal, for each and every couple, for the children they’ve brought into their world, and for the loyal Fanetti fan base:
Susan Fanetti gave us that sense of pride and loyalty and closeness and beauty from the very first word of the series in Move the Sun to the very last in Nolan. It shines in her writing, her steadfast adherence to being the kind of author that takes bold risks who makes no apologies, and her obvious love for the people she creates.
Thank you, Susan Fanetti - it’s been an exhilarating, glorious ride. There will never be another place like Signal Bend. No other MC quite like the Horde.
Re-read as part of the series Aug/Sept 2017 - Below might be the best review I've ever written, not just for Fanetti books either. Everything said still rings true and the depth of this book from where these characters came, where they are, and where they're going is beautifully real and vulnerably honest. My journey with the Night Horde MC's the second time around was just as important to me as the first, actually more. I love these characters and these words. There's no place quite like Signal Bend.
5+++ ”What do you want, Nolan?” Stars
One of my most anticipated books EVER and the one and only Susan Fanetti did not disappoint. In fact, she took all my expectations and blew them right out of the water. Nolan’s journey ended up being nothing like I thought it would and thank sweet baby Jesus for that because I was taken on another beautifully emotional Fanetti ride that was completely different. I don’t recommend Nolan as a standalone for a variety of reasons. To truly appreciate everything in this book you should read the entire series. With that said, I’m sure reading it as a standalone is completely acceptable but there are spoilers to the rest of the series and you’d seriously be missing out if you didn’t read it all.
Nolan strikes every reading chord perfectly. His story exposes the path this man has traveled and shows us the journey leading him to where he’s going. Nolan also continues the story of a big, beautiful family who lift each other up and carry each other always. It’s poignant and sweet, light and dark, acceptance and denial, letting go and moving on - all rolled into one gorgeously perfect final Signal Bend tale.
Each and every Signal Bend character plays an important role in this book and it was so gratifying to see how Fanetti included them all reminding us of the importance of where they came from and how they band together as a blended family. It makes me cry just thinking about it and remembering each couple’s history and how they came to be where they are today. Each person in the Horde – brothers, old ladies, and their children – has a story as uplifting as it is heart breaking. The evolution of this MC and these characters has been a privilege to read. Seeing the meshing and blending years later through Iris and Nolan’s eyes, two club children who lived through the horrors bestowed upon the club, when circumstances now are quite different in Signal Bend was an awesome experience for me as a forever fan of the series.
Nolan himself takes the stage in this book in a big way and he doesn’t do it in the way you’d expect. Well he does, but he doesn’t. In my mind the brilliant (what I’m going to call) twist of Nolan’s story came so unexpectedly that I never anticipated what Nolan actually needed to fulfill his sense of purpose. There’s a lot of healing and overcoming needed to happen from the time we met Nolan back in All the Sky and throughout the rest of Signal Bend and SoCal – who is Nolan the man? What will he accomplish? How can he be whole? It’s heart breaking yet so rewarding.
Fanetti’s words and structure make you feel that healing so deep that when the unexpected happens you smile through your tears. There’s no other character quite like Nolan, for me. His story has always deeply affected me. His strength and his weakness’s. His stalwart maturity and opinion and his self-denied naivety and retreat to his own mind. He’s a strong old soul with vulnerabilities that leave you feeling so much compassion. His need for family and his eventual understanding of that need and how these men and this MC will always be there as they’ve always been. All these traits were exploited with this story and done so brilliantly.
One thing I always deeply admire about this author comes in the strength of her heroines. Iris Ryan exemplifies Fanetti’s always present characterizations of women as pillars of strength. I loved her. I loved that she was perfect for Nolan and understood him even through his darkness. I loved that she had her own darkness yet so much light she’s a beacon for her man, for her father, for many in the club family. I love her loyalty and love for her father and her uncles and their families, their club, and their town. I love that she’s a product of big, burly MC member who loves her so much and she’s beyond proud to call him “Daddy”. I love that she’s a young woman who sees the glass constantly half full even when her own glass at times was remarkably half empty. I love that she’s a woman who wants to discover and learn and not conform to societal expectations. And I love her for Nolan Mariano. So very, very much.
If you’ve traveled to Signal Bend in the past you know that no happy ending happens just because but rather ultimately ends with a sense of righteousness and understanding so much greater than you ever had before, for both the characters you love and yourself as the reader and fan. The characters of Night Horde MC have become a part of me and have made an incredible impact on my reading soul through the multitude of unconventional, poignantly beautiful stories told about them.
All thanks to the brilliant, heart breaking, evocative, evolving – did I say brilliant? - writing of Susan Fanetti. Being a fan of the series I’ve been a Nolan supporter for a very long time and this book gave me so much additional insight as to why and further proof of that love being worth it. I cherished every single thing about it. Fanetti gave Nolan what he needed and so much more. She gave him everything in a way only she could deliver. I’ll miss Signal Bend. Desperately. But I’ll always be extraordinarily grateful for time I was given there.
There’s one quote in this book spoken by a reflecting Adrienne while talking with Iris that I think really explains the love we all have for this MC so perfectly. It’s fitting for the Night Horde, for the entirety of both series’ of Signal Bend and SoCal, for each and every couple, for the children they’ve brought into their world, and for the loyal Fanetti fan base:
”Not that weird, if you think about it. We made our family out of people who struggled with what others thought they should do and be. We all get it. Cory told me once, before Badge and I were married, that the Horde is the family we all chose when the one we started out with broke. We all know what it’s like to need to be something other people don’t understand.”
Susan Fanetti gave us that sense of pride and loyalty and closeness and beauty from the very first word of the series in Move the Sun to the very last in Nolan. It shines in her writing, her steadfast adherence to being the kind of author that takes bold risks who makes no apologies, and her obvious love for the people she creates.
Thank you, Susan Fanetti - it’s been an exhilarating, glorious ride. There will never be another place like Signal Bend. No other MC quite like the Horde.
September 19, 2016
4.5 Stars
August 30, 2016
Blown away, still processing, will review soon!
June 9, 2016
3-3.5 stars
Oh boy... Okay first and foremost, I LOVE THIS SERIES!!
I just came off a three book binge read. The last two SoCal books and Nolan. So having lack of sleep and dealing with the emotions of the past two SOCAl books... I found this to be, sadly, bit lack luster. Not getting into it, but I do have one major point that just sadness me.
SPOILER(ish) BELOW
Oh boy... Okay first and foremost, I LOVE THIS SERIES!!
I just came off a three book binge read. The last two SoCal books and Nolan. So having lack of sleep and dealing with the emotions of the past two SOCAl books... I found this to be, sadly, bit lack luster. Not getting into it, but I do have one major point that just sadness me.
SPOILER(ish) BELOW
July 28, 2016
6++ Signal Bend STARS
I seriously didn’t want this book to end. From the moment I stepped foot into Susan Fanetti’s world of the Night Horde and Signal Bend, it felt like home. These brothers with big hearts who make their own laws and don’t shy away from the dark side, and their strong, vibrant women who stand by their side were like family.
Nolan was a young boy and grew into a man with this series. His story was simply perfection. His life has been, in Susan’s words, ”…the seesaw of loss and gain, sadness and hope…” and seeing him grow and navigate life was bittersweet.
It was also wonderful to drop in on the Horde and visit with them in their lives, settled, thriving, loving and living.
Isaac’s had my heart from day one and while I’ve loved each and every one of the Night Horde, he’s been number 1. But I must say, Nolan gave him a run for the money. His journey to find his way and come to peace, and for me too, was moving with highs and lows. And as I’ve come to expect, Susan had me crying a few times in sadness and happiness.
“But his love was a raw, desperate thing, like a beast that had been caged up and starved.”
Susan's a masterful storyteller. Her characters burrow into your heart and move you, and her stories captivate, inspire and enrich your heart and your mind. If you haven't read this series or you haven't read Susan, I can't recommend enough that you do!
For more reviews and blog posts.
I seriously didn’t want this book to end. From the moment I stepped foot into Susan Fanetti’s world of the Night Horde and Signal Bend, it felt like home. These brothers with big hearts who make their own laws and don’t shy away from the dark side, and their strong, vibrant women who stand by their side were like family.
Nolan was a young boy and grew into a man with this series. His story was simply perfection. His life has been, in Susan’s words, ”…the seesaw of loss and gain, sadness and hope…” and seeing him grow and navigate life was bittersweet.
It was also wonderful to drop in on the Horde and visit with them in their lives, settled, thriving, loving and living.
Isaac’s had my heart from day one and while I’ve loved each and every one of the Night Horde, he’s been number 1. But I must say, Nolan gave him a run for the money. His journey to find his way and come to peace, and for me too, was moving with highs and lows. And as I’ve come to expect, Susan had me crying a few times in sadness and happiness.
“But his love was a raw, desperate thing, like a beast that had been caged up and starved.”
Susan's a masterful storyteller. Her characters burrow into your heart and move you, and her stories captivate, inspire and enrich your heart and your mind. If you haven't read this series or you haven't read Susan, I can't recommend enough that you do!
For more reviews and blog posts.
June 5, 2016
I can't even begin to put into words how much I loved this book! I've wanted Nolan's story to continue for so long and Susan Fanetti certainly delivered with this book. I feel so completely satisfied with how everything played out. It was unexpected and so very perfect. And that epilogue made me ball like a baby!
May 25, 2020
Having read the first two Signal Bend books back in 2013. I decided to re-read and finish the series.
Nolan is book 8.
Anyway I discovered there is another series that links with this one. I discovered that while being told certain people were dead. And life’s changed.
Nolan has been through so much. And that’s without the heartbreak of the book I didn’t read (Today & Tomorrow from the SoCal spin-off).
If I had read that book then I wouldn’t be reading this. Nolan has been through so much. I mean seriously how much can one character suffer.
That said this wasn’t a bad read. It also wasn’t great. But I have fallen in love with all these guys.
I’m not intending to read the other spin-offs unless Gia is featured. I’d like her story. But beyond that I’m good.
June 5, 2016
5 Full Circle Stars
This story is so beautiful yet sad. It is very emotional but I'm so glad everything worked out. You guys have to read this book and I want to know what you guys think. Perfect ending.
“With my whole heart, I promise.”
This story is so beautiful yet sad. It is very emotional but I'm so glad everything worked out. You guys have to read this book and I want to know what you guys think. Perfect ending.
“With my whole heart, I promise.”
August 2, 2020
I enjoyed this series a lot. There’s a lot of terrible things in it wich i hated. But the love and the writing is amazing!!! On to the brazen bulls next. Hope to love that one as well.
July 24, 2017
Re-read - July 2017 - 5 stars
Now that I read this story the second time, I've realised just how flawlessly amazing it is.
Still made me cry a lot when Nolan was holding on to so much pain inside and all I ever wanted was to see this sweet boy to find peace and hope.
And that's where Iris comes in. It amazes me despite the traumatic devastation she witnessed as a child, only just made her a person who wants to be better and who values her family above anything.
She understood Nolan's burden of pain and sadness he's trying hard to conceal and only hoped as like I did that he feels lighter and happier.
Nolan's story was very needed to be expressed because no matter how much heartache and darkness life gives, there's always a way towards light and happiness. And I'm always thankful this story delivered everything Nolan and and whole Night Horde MC deserved. ❤️
————————————————
Read - December 2016 - 4 stars
So I may have sobbed uncontrollably few times but how can I not? Our young Nolan whom we saw as a young troubled teen in the Signal Bend series finally found happiness after the big trauma he and his family suffered. And when I realised it was Show's baby girl, Iris; my bittersweet heart couldn't have been more content. I love the Night Horde MC, I can't imagine Nolan without them and they are everything he has❤️
Now that I read this story the second time, I've realised just how flawlessly amazing it is.
Still made me cry a lot when Nolan was holding on to so much pain inside and all I ever wanted was to see this sweet boy to find peace and hope.
And that's where Iris comes in. It amazes me despite the traumatic devastation she witnessed as a child, only just made her a person who wants to be better and who values her family above anything.
She understood Nolan's burden of pain and sadness he's trying hard to conceal and only hoped as like I did that he feels lighter and happier.
Nolan's story was very needed to be expressed because no matter how much heartache and darkness life gives, there's always a way towards light and happiness. And I'm always thankful this story delivered everything Nolan and and whole Night Horde MC deserved. ❤️
————————————————
Read - December 2016 - 4 stars
So I may have sobbed uncontrollably few times but how can I not? Our young Nolan whom we saw as a young troubled teen in the Signal Bend series finally found happiness after the big trauma he and his family suffered. And when I realised it was Show's baby girl, Iris; my bittersweet heart couldn't have been more content. I love the Night Horde MC, I can't imagine Nolan without them and they are everything he has❤️
April 18, 2025
Possibly my favourite book out of both the Signal Bend and The Night Horde So Cal series!
Nolan is the reward readers of the Signal Bend series have been hoping for. I have had a soft spot for Nolan from the time we met him when he was just a boy who looked out for his mum and who, when life got too much for him, would go for long walks. The last time we met Nolan, it was to follow him on another emotional roller-coaster in his life, except this is a ride he chose to make. In this book, we catch up with Nolan and the Night Horde at Signal Bend 4 years later.
He turned and saw Show and Bart on the porch, watching the whole scene. “Fuck.” Iris laughed. “One, we’re grownups. Two, we weren’t doing anything. And three, if he’s mad, it’s you he’s going for, so I’m good.”
It’s Show’s girl, Iris, that stirs Nolan’s heart and has it beating in a way he hasn’t felt in years. Both Iris and Nolan have survived horrific losses as children and the scars they carry are mostly hidden. They have to dig deep and decide whether or not they are willing to take their new-found friendship to the level of what they suspect it could be but under the watchful eyes of every member of the Horde and the town. One inkling that romance is in the air and tongues will be wagging, eyes will be following and word will travel fast. There will be no going back in this small town, so they know that once they appear to be an item, their personal lives will be private no longer.
Catching up with the Night Horde means you brace yourself for the worst. Past experience had me prepared but this time, the majority of the drama existed in fighting demons of the past and the determination to not let go of the events that have changed the lives of so many. Well except for Bart, he was all about keeping the equilibrium and the peace that came with it. It was great to catch up with the others from the Horde and to see the town back to normal again.
Nolan had put his arm around his mom’s shoulders, and she’d rested her head on his chest, and he’d known right then that it was the best moment of the whole holiday.
There were a couple of predictable scenes but mostly the plot twists didn’t pan out as I expected. A lot of soul-searching, and some seriously hot action from the man Nolan had become showed he was totally alpha but who had also perfected his caring nature. It was his raw energy that set him apart and when it was channelled in the right direction, it was impressive. The vulnerable side he lets slip out occasionally is a reminder that we never stop learning the important lessons in life.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nolan to anyone who has read the previous books in the Signal Bend or the Night Horde So Cal series. This is your reward for hanging in there through thick and thin. Have the kleenex ready as the tears from the beautiful reflections began for me at 1%. This was a 5-star book from beginning to end.
What I struggled with:
*Iris’s Mother
*Not calling for help
What I loved:
*Iris’s career choice
*Their first kiss or was it the second or third (maybe it was all three!)
*The family Havoc provided for Nolan, Loki, and his mum
*Nolan stepping up as a big brother
*Mementos
*Iris’s boss, Geoff
*New Year’s Eve and overindulging
*Lilli’s description of why it’s OK to wear what something special when it is for the right reason
*The epilogue and what they shared with Show!
*And so much more…truly, this is a book where my list of what worked for me would consist of summarising chapter after chapter.
Nolan is the reward readers of the Signal Bend series have been hoping for. I have had a soft spot for Nolan from the time we met him when he was just a boy who looked out for his mum and who, when life got too much for him, would go for long walks. The last time we met Nolan, it was to follow him on another emotional roller-coaster in his life, except this is a ride he chose to make. In this book, we catch up with Nolan and the Night Horde at Signal Bend 4 years later.
He turned and saw Show and Bart on the porch, watching the whole scene. “Fuck.” Iris laughed. “One, we’re grownups. Two, we weren’t doing anything. And three, if he’s mad, it’s you he’s going for, so I’m good.”
It’s Show’s girl, Iris, that stirs Nolan’s heart and has it beating in a way he hasn’t felt in years. Both Iris and Nolan have survived horrific losses as children and the scars they carry are mostly hidden. They have to dig deep and decide whether or not they are willing to take their new-found friendship to the level of what they suspect it could be but under the watchful eyes of every member of the Horde and the town. One inkling that romance is in the air and tongues will be wagging, eyes will be following and word will travel fast. There will be no going back in this small town, so they know that once they appear to be an item, their personal lives will be private no longer.
Catching up with the Night Horde means you brace yourself for the worst. Past experience had me prepared but this time, the majority of the drama existed in fighting demons of the past and the determination to not let go of the events that have changed the lives of so many. Well except for Bart, he was all about keeping the equilibrium and the peace that came with it. It was great to catch up with the others from the Horde and to see the town back to normal again.
Nolan had put his arm around his mom’s shoulders, and she’d rested her head on his chest, and he’d known right then that it was the best moment of the whole holiday.
There were a couple of predictable scenes but mostly the plot twists didn’t pan out as I expected. A lot of soul-searching, and some seriously hot action from the man Nolan had become showed he was totally alpha but who had also perfected his caring nature. It was his raw energy that set him apart and when it was channelled in the right direction, it was impressive. The vulnerable side he lets slip out occasionally is a reminder that we never stop learning the important lessons in life.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nolan to anyone who has read the previous books in the Signal Bend or the Night Horde So Cal series. This is your reward for hanging in there through thick and thin. Have the kleenex ready as the tears from the beautiful reflections began for me at 1%. This was a 5-star book from beginning to end.
What I struggled with:
*Iris’s Mother
*Not calling for help
What I loved:
*Iris’s career choice
*Their first kiss or was it the second or third (maybe it was all three!)
*The family Havoc provided for Nolan, Loki, and his mum
*Nolan stepping up as a big brother
*Mementos
*Iris’s boss, Geoff
*New Year’s Eve and overindulging
*Lilli’s description of why it’s OK to wear what something special when it is for the right reason
*The epilogue and what they shared with Show!
*And so much more…truly, this is a book where my list of what worked for me would consist of summarising chapter after chapter.
July 21, 2018
** 4.5 stars**for this beautiful addition to the Signal Bend Night Horde family. Just loved it.
It’s Nolan & Iris’ story, after Nolan returns to Signal Bend from his time with the SoCal chapter. He’s now Badger’s SAA.
Iris has finished College and she just wants to come back to Signal Bend and live close to her Father again.
So this is like the second generation, a couple of the Horde kids and it’s a great story.
It’s Nolan & Iris’ story, after Nolan returns to Signal Bend from his time with the SoCal chapter. He’s now Badger’s SAA.
Iris has finished College and she just wants to come back to Signal Bend and live close to her Father again.
So this is like the second generation, a couple of the Horde kids and it’s a great story.
June 18, 2016
This whole series by Susan Fanetti has held special meaning for me. My maternal grandmother homesteaded in an area about 70 miles from Springfield Missouri in a small town like Signal Bend. Yes, the town itself pretty much started to fold and many left. Of course it didn't have a MC like the Horde to bring it back to life or protect it but when reading her story I can picture it within my minds eye. The old barns falling down and being taken over by the country side. Treasure hunting within there walls finding relics from days gone by. This one is a continuation of the Signal Bend series now with the next generation. It focuses around Nolan,son of Havoc and Iris, daughter of Showdown. What happens to Havoc in one of the previous reads tore our heart out and I'm glad that she gave us insight to what happens to the children. Great read and for those who love the Signal Bend series, I know you will enjoy this one.
June 7, 2016
If I could give ten stars I would. What a beautifully written book that I been waiting for and it certainly delivered. I will admit out of all the Signal Bend and Night Horde books I could not finish Nolans novella. I knew what was going to happen and just did not want my heart broken so I had to wait until this book to close the gap and for Nolan to hopefully get his HEA. Things were tied up nicely with all the gang and revisiting the Signal Bend MC was a delight. Makes me want to read all the books again. What a wonderful author Susan Fanetti is to give her readers what they wanted. Well done.
June 5, 2016
Simply awesome. This book was needed after what we had gone through with the Horde. Vega, Bart and Nolan--the loose ends. Thank you, Susan, for giving us this.
June 18, 2016
Wonderful conclusion to this (both, actually) series. Soothed some places that needed healing from the earlier books. Sad the series is over, but SF ended it with lots of heart and hope.
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March 25, 2017
March 2017
June 15, 2016
2.5 stars.
I didn't read Nolan's first book (I have a serious love/hate thing going on for Ms. Fanetti and I like books that leave me feeling happy) but I figured this one had to end up in a good place by the end (although, maybe not) so I decided to just bite the bullet and read this.
I wouldn't say it was bad, because it wasn't. I just wasn't feeling it. The chemistry between the two main characters seemed a little off and not particularly strong. And can Iris be any more freaking understanding??? I don't know any woman that would react the way she does to Nolan 'adjusting' to life without his Ana (even though it's been four years). She just was too perfect and I like my heroines with a little more grit and backbone. I wouldn't say she's a doormat; she's just written in a way that seemed unrealistic to me. Too sweet. Too understanding. Too goddamned tolerant.
Anyhoo...others may like it. It was a bit 'meh' for me.
I didn't read Nolan's first book (I have a serious love/hate thing going on for Ms. Fanetti and I like books that leave me feeling happy) but I figured this one had to end up in a good place by the end (although, maybe not) so I decided to just bite the bullet and read this.
I wouldn't say it was bad, because it wasn't. I just wasn't feeling it. The chemistry between the two main characters seemed a little off and not particularly strong. And can Iris be any more freaking understanding??? I don't know any woman that would react the way she does to Nolan 'adjusting' to life without his Ana (even though it's been four years). She just was too perfect and I like my heroines with a little more grit and backbone. I wouldn't say she's a doormat; she's just written in a way that seemed unrealistic to me. Too sweet. Too understanding. Too goddamned tolerant.
Anyhoo...others may like it. It was a bit 'meh' for me.
January 2, 2017
After the heartbreaking end to the Horde SoCal series,
I had to revisit the originals...the Horde mother chapter in
Missouri via Nolan's story.
Nolan was featured in a SoCal side story...in an epic love story with Anni, a girl with terminal cancer.
This book starts years after Nolan has returned home to Missouri. Still mourning the loss of his only love and itching for revenge for the death of his father Havoc, ten years before.
Iris, Show's youngest daughter, returns to Signal Bend and decides to stay. She has ghosts of her own...the death of her older sister, Daisy, at the hands of Horde enemies many years ago.
But Iris' inherent sweetness calms Nolan and makes his demons fade into the background.
This book was redemptive and healing for both MCs and gave the reader the HEA missing from the finale of SoCal series.
It was a perfect follow up to Calm & Storm.
4.5 stars.
June 5, 2016
I'm so glad this book was written. It's a great wrap-up to the series (at least I imagine that is its purpose) and ties up dangling storylines. I have always had such a soft spot for Nolan's character and we find out what happens with some others, too. The characters we started out with have been living their lives and changes have come to them, as they will to us all.
For those who haven't read the Signal Bend series, I highly recommend it.
For those who haven't read the Signal Bend series, I highly recommend it.
October 21, 2017
Five perfect stars from me. Through a soul searching journey, Nolan at last finds his peace. If you haven't read any of the other signal bend books, I really wouldn't start with this one, you need to find out who Nolan is, to understand him in this book. Loved the epilogue, and the scene between Iris and Snowdown at the end, bought tears to my eyes.
I would love it if Gia got her own book.
I would love it if Gia got her own book.
June 5, 2016
5* loved it!
July 18, 2017
Since this is my 8th Signal Bend book and my 18th Susan Fanetti novel you could say that I have gone fully down the rabbit hole never to return.
It is hard to describe this book, so much of what happened to these characters was detailed in the Signal Bend series (Books 5&6). I fear that if a reader hasn't read those, they will be lost. The author refers to "the horrible thing that happened" several times in the beginning and that might leave a reader who is not entirely familiar with the series annoyed. I know I would be. While they are covered later, the horrible things that happen aren't overly detailed in this installment so maybe some readers might find this installment easier to read. Ms. Fanetti does like her detail.
Nolan has suffered so much loss in his life. He constantly feels the need to avenge his step-fathers murder, but also clings to his remaining relationships like grim death, after all everyone leaves him. He is a needy boy our Nolan. Iris, our heroine is no stranger to loss. Her sister Daisy was killed when she was just entering her teens and Iris was still a little girl. Not only are they both club kids, their mutual losses bind them as well. All in all, this story is the conclusion of Nolan finding his place in the Night Horde brotherhood, accepting his losses and moving on with his life with Iris.
Really well written/great books always have a way of remaining in my memory bank. The meh books, the ones where I find myself not really invested in the characters and I don't feel a connection are the forgettable ones. So in my humble opinion, I thought this was unforgettable!!!! I loved reading Nolan's journey from boy to man and all the obstacles he overcame.
It is hard to describe this book, so much of what happened to these characters was detailed in the Signal Bend series (Books 5&6). I fear that if a reader hasn't read those, they will be lost. The author refers to "the horrible thing that happened" several times in the beginning and that might leave a reader who is not entirely familiar with the series annoyed. I know I would be. While they are covered later, the horrible things that happen aren't overly detailed in this installment so maybe some readers might find this installment easier to read. Ms. Fanetti does like her detail.
Nolan has suffered so much loss in his life. He constantly feels the need to avenge his step-fathers murder, but also clings to his remaining relationships like grim death, after all everyone leaves him. He is a needy boy our Nolan. Iris, our heroine is no stranger to loss. Her sister Daisy was killed when she was just entering her teens and Iris was still a little girl. Not only are they both club kids, their mutual losses bind them as well. All in all, this story is the conclusion of Nolan finding his place in the Night Horde brotherhood, accepting his losses and moving on with his life with Iris.
Really well written/great books always have a way of remaining in my memory bank. The meh books, the ones where I find myself not really invested in the characters and I don't feel a connection are the forgettable ones. So in my humble opinion, I thought this was unforgettable!!!! I loved reading Nolan's journey from boy to man and all the obstacles he overcame.
February 10, 2017
3 - 3.5 Stars - keep in mind that the bar is a lot higher with this author.
I have so many thoughts and notes on this book, but I will wait until I can put them all together before writing this review.
************
1/3/2017 - Ok, it took me 5 months to decide what I wanted to write. I still don't have all of my notes with me, but I feel enough about it that I want to get something down.
There are so many things to say. First off, let me reiterate how much I love this author! I think she is amazing and I will continue to love the Signal Bend series and read Fanetti's books. However, there is one thing about this book that almost ruined it for me and left me with a sick feeling in my stomach.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER - Be warned.
I also have to say that I didn't fully connect with Nolan and Iris. I didn't get their connection. I felt SO MUCH MORE with Nolan and Analisa, and preferred that novella to this book. I wanted Nolan to have a happy ever after, so I can't complain too much. I just wasn't convinced by their relationship; it didn't seem organic and there was no chemistry. It seemed forced, and I didn't feel anything about the two of them. Also, this book was slow and lacked action. I know most of the drama concluded at the end of the SoCal series, but I thought there was an opportunity for additional drama with Iris' mom and her tumultuous (to say the least) relationship with her husband, or at least something more with Nolan beyond what we were given, but I know the story had to end somewhere. I wanted more Nolan and I got what asked for, I just didn't get it the way I would have liked.
I will say again: I LOVE THIS AUTHOR, but this book didn't work for me, and I almost wish I wouldn't have read it because of what I mentioned in the spoiler, and because it felt like a lackluster ending to an amazing series.
I have so many thoughts and notes on this book, but I will wait until I can put them all together before writing this review.
************
1/3/2017 - Ok, it took me 5 months to decide what I wanted to write. I still don't have all of my notes with me, but I feel enough about it that I want to get something down.
There are so many things to say. First off, let me reiterate how much I love this author! I think she is amazing and I will continue to love the Signal Bend series and read Fanetti's books. However, there is one thing about this book that almost ruined it for me and left me with a sick feeling in my stomach.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER - Be warned.
I also have to say that I didn't fully connect with Nolan and Iris. I didn't get their connection. I felt SO MUCH MORE with Nolan and Analisa, and preferred that novella to this book. I wanted Nolan to have a happy ever after, so I can't complain too much. I just wasn't convinced by their relationship; it didn't seem organic and there was no chemistry. It seemed forced, and I didn't feel anything about the two of them. Also, this book was slow and lacked action. I know most of the drama concluded at the end of the SoCal series, but I thought there was an opportunity for additional drama with Iris' mom and her tumultuous (to say the least) relationship with her husband, or at least something more with Nolan beyond what we were given, but I know the story had to end somewhere. I wanted more Nolan and I got what asked for, I just didn't get it the way I would have liked.
I will say again: I LOVE THIS AUTHOR, but this book didn't work for me, and I almost wish I wouldn't have read it because of what I mentioned in the spoiler, and because it felt like a lackluster ending to an amazing series.
March 16, 2024
Review from a re-read – this is an MC story that would only make sense if you’ve read the other books in the The Signal Bend Series series. If you’re curious about it, I’d just warn you that, while it IS one of the better MC series out there, the characters suffer a LOT. And, one of the heroes dies after getting his HFN ending with his heroine. One of the heroines also dies after getting her HFN with her hero. (Her death is "off page" in this series, since it happens in the spinoff series that I never read, but we see the aftermath. But for the hero who dies, that happens on-page, and it's horrific, and we see his heroine suffer after. The whole thing casts a terrible pall over the rest of the series, and it ruins the HEA in their book, which is one of the better books).
I think the author THINKS she gets around the “romance rules” of “must have an HEA” because these characters do get HFN endings in their own books. They die in later books. And, the partners they leave behind get a sad and lovely “love after loss” second chance novella with each other, Love & Friendship: A Signal Bend Byway. The author does do a good job of showing that these characters can have more than one “great love” in life. But, it’s still shady, the way the author dances around violating those romance “must have an HEA” rules. So, while I rec this series to people who like MC, the rec comes with a red flag warning about 2 character deaths that ruin 2 of the HEAs.
Anyway, onto this book. It's about Nolan and Iris. She’s 23, and is Show’s daughter. He’s 26, and is Cory’s son (and Havoc’s stepson). They’re one of the youngest couples, since most of this series is about characters in their 40s. We first met each of them as kids, in their parents books, and now they're grown up.
The first time I read this, I thought Iris was a little boring. And maybe even a pushover, for taking Nolan back so easily after . But, I like Iris more each time read this. She has a quiet strength. She's not aimless; she knows what she wants, and her ambitions are small. She’s happy to just work in a shop and live in a small town and get married and have kids. There’s nothing wrong with that, if it's what someone wants. She does stand up for herself when she needs to.
I also like how pragmatic she is at the beginning, when it seems like Nolan is yanking her around, a bit. When she thinks that it would be a bummer if he doesn't like her as much as she likes him, but she won't let herself be overcome with despair, because he's not the only guy in the world. Iris actually kind of rocks as a heroine - in a quiet, understated way.
She’s also not a pushover, because there are circumstances around why Nolan temporarily abandons her. And as readers, we’ve been privy to all of his pain and suffering, in earlier books. So, Iris’s understanding of that shows her maturity. While I love a good grovel book, a grovel is too simplistic for certain situations. It doesn't fit every story. Here, I like that Nolan doesn't grovel for wronging her, because the circumstances were complex, and Iris understood that. Iris was actually even more mature than her stepmom, Shannon! Since in Iris's dad's earlier book, Into the Storm Show briefly treated Shannon poorly, because of his own pain and suffering. And Shannon wasn't as understanding of that as Iris is of Nolan's actions.
She’s a much better version of this type of heroine than Adrienne. In Adrienne and Badger’s book, Leave a Trail, Adrienne is like the author’s first draft of that kind of heroine. Iris is the perfected final draft. Adrienne felt flimsy as a character. She didn’t feel like she had enough of a sense of self, and she did feel like a boring heroine, since she didn't know what she wanted and was aimlessly drifting. It did feel like she gave up her identity to just become an MC Old Lady and fit Badger's life, which left a bad taste in my mouth in their book.
Iris does have a sense of self, and it doesn't feel like she gives up any of her identity, for Nolan. It feels like their puzzle pieces fit together, in a way that's natural and unforced. And although Iris admits that she wants to “save” Nolan, the story ends in a place where it shows that they’re mutually good for each other. This book also gets to have its cake, and eat it, too. Because as readers, we also want to “save” poor Nolan, who we’ve seen suffer throughout the series. So, it feels right that his heroine also feels that way. But this story also acknowledges that that isn’t healthy for a relationship, so it also takes them through that phase until their relationship reaches a stronger place.
In general, I do think HEAs feel better when they're hard-won, when the characters suffered along the way. This series pushes the envelope in having the characters suffer a little TOO much. But for Nolan and Iris, their HEA feels really sweet and earned and like a relief, especially for Nolan.
The epilogue is also sad and happy and lovely - and a little bit heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting, the way the rest of this series is, if you can deal with some of its heartbreak.
I think the author THINKS she gets around the “romance rules” of “must have an HEA” because these characters do get HFN endings in their own books. They die in later books. And, the partners they leave behind get a sad and lovely “love after loss” second chance novella with each other, Love & Friendship: A Signal Bend Byway. The author does do a good job of showing that these characters can have more than one “great love” in life. But, it’s still shady, the way the author dances around violating those romance “must have an HEA” rules. So, while I rec this series to people who like MC, the rec comes with a red flag warning about 2 character deaths that ruin 2 of the HEAs.
Anyway, onto this book. It's about Nolan and Iris. She’s 23, and is Show’s daughter. He’s 26, and is Cory’s son (and Havoc’s stepson). They’re one of the youngest couples, since most of this series is about characters in their 40s. We first met each of them as kids, in their parents books, and now they're grown up.
The first time I read this, I thought Iris was a little boring. And maybe even a pushover, for taking Nolan back so easily after . But, I like Iris more each time read this. She has a quiet strength. She's not aimless; she knows what she wants, and her ambitions are small. She’s happy to just work in a shop and live in a small town and get married and have kids. There’s nothing wrong with that, if it's what someone wants. She does stand up for herself when she needs to.
I also like how pragmatic she is at the beginning, when it seems like Nolan is yanking her around, a bit. When she thinks that it would be a bummer if he doesn't like her as much as she likes him, but she won't let herself be overcome with despair, because he's not the only guy in the world. Iris actually kind of rocks as a heroine - in a quiet, understated way.
She’s also not a pushover, because there are circumstances around why Nolan temporarily abandons her. And as readers, we’ve been privy to all of his pain and suffering, in earlier books. So, Iris’s understanding of that shows her maturity. While I love a good grovel book, a grovel is too simplistic for certain situations. It doesn't fit every story. Here, I like that Nolan doesn't grovel for wronging her, because the circumstances were complex, and Iris understood that. Iris was actually even more mature than her stepmom, Shannon! Since in Iris's dad's earlier book, Into the Storm Show briefly treated Shannon poorly, because of his own pain and suffering. And Shannon wasn't as understanding of that as Iris is of Nolan's actions.
She’s a much better version of this type of heroine than Adrienne. In Adrienne and Badger’s book, Leave a Trail, Adrienne is like the author’s first draft of that kind of heroine. Iris is the perfected final draft. Adrienne felt flimsy as a character. She didn’t feel like she had enough of a sense of self, and she did feel like a boring heroine, since she didn't know what she wanted and was aimlessly drifting. It did feel like she gave up her identity to just become an MC Old Lady and fit Badger's life, which left a bad taste in my mouth in their book.
Iris does have a sense of self, and it doesn't feel like she gives up any of her identity, for Nolan. It feels like their puzzle pieces fit together, in a way that's natural and unforced. And although Iris admits that she wants to “save” Nolan, the story ends in a place where it shows that they’re mutually good for each other. This book also gets to have its cake, and eat it, too. Because as readers, we also want to “save” poor Nolan, who we’ve seen suffer throughout the series. So, it feels right that his heroine also feels that way. But this story also acknowledges that that isn’t healthy for a relationship, so it also takes them through that phase until their relationship reaches a stronger place.
In general, I do think HEAs feel better when they're hard-won, when the characters suffered along the way. This series pushes the envelope in having the characters suffer a little TOO much. But for Nolan and Iris, their HEA feels really sweet and earned and like a relief, especially for Nolan.
The epilogue is also sad and happy and lovely - and a little bit heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting, the way the rest of this series is, if you can deal with some of its heartbreak.
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